Electric toothbrush storage case



Nov. 22, 1966 T. G. SPOFFORD 3,287,076

ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH STORAGE CASE Filed Dec. .18, 1964 FIG.3. 4 4 j 32 I A 3&6 \A\ j m I/I/I/IIIIIIIA f\ 33 4 2| 2| WITNESSES 33 INVENTOR WJW Thomas G.Spofford BY W fld/dwyl 29 W? W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,287,076 ELECTRIC TOOTHBRUSH STORAGE CASE Thomas G. Spofford, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 419,397 10 Claims. (Cl. 312--206) This invention relates, in general, to apparatus for storing frequently used domestic appliances and, more particularly, to apparatus for storing electrically driven toothbrushes.

Heretofore, portable carrying cases for electrical toothbrushes were so constructed that the interior of the case would become soiled and consequently, unsightly from toothpaste and liquid dripping from the brushes. Somewhat like the ordinary toothbrush racks found in the bathroom these prior art carrying cases do not lend themselves to being readily cleaned.

Accordingly, it is the general object of this invention to provide a new and improved apparatus for storing frequently used domestic appliances.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide a new and improved carrying case or stand for domestic appliances such as electrical toothbrushes including the power handle and brushes used therewith.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved portable carrying case or stand for a domestic appliance such as an electrical toothbrush which facilitates hygienic care thereof.

Briefly, the present invention accomplishes the above cited objects by providing a portable case or stand having a rack, adapted to carry toothbrushes, which is removable from the case or stand for thorough cleaning thereof.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and features of novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out in particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view representing one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view illustrating the locking means which is a part of this invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on the line IIIIII of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, but with the channel-shaped rack in the unsecured position.

Referring now to the drawings, especially, FIG. 1, reference character 10 designates generally a portable storage and carrying case or stand for an electric toothbrush. The case, made from any suitable material, for example, plastic, comprises a box-like member 11 having a base 12, a pair of end walls 13 and a back wall 14 intermediate the end walls.

Each of the end walls 13 is provided with a track groove 16 which is adapted to retain an articulated cover 17 having a handle 18. As viewed in FIG. 1, the main portion of the cover, in its open position, lies adjacent the back wall 14 such that the part of the cover to which the handle is attached will not obstruct removal of a power handle (not shown) or toothbrushes 15 (only one being shown) usually carried within the case 10.

The end walls 13 may be provided with a plurality of openings (not shown) which will, with the cover 17 closed, permit circulation of air through the case 10 thereby facilitating evaporation of moisture therein.

A rack 19, made from any suitable resilient material, for example, polypropylene, is channel-shaped in cross section (see FIG. 3), and is adapted to be removably inserted in the case 10 and to rest on a horizontal shelf 21 disposed above the base 12 and connected thereto by a user section 9. The rack is provided with a plurality of pedestals or supports 22 for carrying toothbrushes 15 (only one being shown). The rack is further provided with an opening 23 for receiving a power' handle (not shown). The shelf 21 is provided with an opening 24 which is coaxial with the opening 23 to provide access to a charging unit 26 having charging contacts 27 disposed therein. When the power handle is not being used it may be put on charge by dropping it down into the charging unit, through the openings 23 and 24, where its charging contacts will abut the contacts 27, providing, of course that the plug on the end of a power cord 28 has been properly inserted into a utility outlet.

The power cord 28 may be detachable, in which case, it may be stored within the case for travel, or it may be permanently attached to the charging unit. For preparing the cord for travel it is wrapped around a reel 29, only partially shown (see FIGS. 3 and 4), which reel is attached to the back wall 14 and a stiffening member 33 (only partially shown) which is provided to increase the rigidity of the back wall 14. In addition to providing convenience for travel, the cord reel 29 provides a convenient place for storing the excess cord when the case 10 is, for example, mounted on a wall at a distance, from a power outlet, less than the full length of the cord.

The rack 19 is provided with a pair of spaced apart protrusions 30 and 31 (best illustrated in FIG. 2) adjacent each of its lateral edges, only one pair being shown. The protrusion 30 is somewhat larger than the protrusion 31 for a purpose to be hereinafter discussed.

Each of the end walls 13 is provided with a horizontal boss 32, only one of which is shown. The bosses are adapted to cooperate with the protrusions 31 to temporarily bow the channel-shaped rack to permit the protrusion 31 to pass under the bosses as the rack is being inserted. Once the rack is inserted it returns to its normal shape with each pair of protrusions 30 and 31 coming to rest as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The rack is sufficiently resilient, that, if it is properly oriented (that is, smaller protrusion 31 leading and larger protrusion 30 trailing), insertion is possible. However, if the rack is turned around (that is larger protrusion 30 leading), then, insertion will not be possible because of the larger protrusion 30 and because the front leg (at the left in FIGS. 2 and 3) of the rack 19 is slightly larger than the rear one. It will be understood that this arrangement is necessitated because the opening 23 is non-symmetrical and if it were possible to install the rack backwards, the identical openings 23 and 24 would be misaligned thereby preventing insertion of the power handle into the charging unit. It can be seen that this arrangement lends itself to removal of the toothbrushes in the vertical direction, without disturbing the position of the rack in the case.

While there has been shown and described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, modifications thereto will readily occur to those skilled in the art. It is not desired, therefore, that the invention be limited to the specific arrangements shown and described and it is intended to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A portable storage case or stand for domestic appliances, such as a power drive toothbrush handle, detachable toothbrushes and a charger for the power drive handle, said case comprising: a box-like member having a base, a back wall, a pair of end walls each of which includes a curved track groove therein and a shelf above the base and connected thereto by a riser section to provide a cavity therebetween; an articulated cover adapted to fit within said track grooves and slidable with respect thereto; a rack insertable between said end Walls above said shelf and adapted to rest thereon; a plurality of tapered pedestals on said rack for removably supporting toothbrushes; said shelf and said rack being provided with oppositely disposed openings for receiving a power handle; and means for locking said rack in said case whereby the rack is capable of resisting vertical displacement upon removal of said toothbrushes or the power handle; said rack being removable from said case for facilitating cleaning thereof.

2. Structure as specified in claim 1, wherein said rack is channel-shaped and made from resilient material.

3. Structure as specified in claim 2, wherein said looking means comprises a boss on one of said side walls and a pair of spaced apart protrusions on said rack, said boss being adapted to serve as a cam surface and one of said protrusions as a cam follower, said cam follower protrusion being adapted to depress the surface of said rack thereby permitting said cam follower protrusion to pass under said boss upon contacting said boss.

4. Structure as specified in claim 2, wherein said locking means comprises a boss on each of said side walls and two pairs of spaced apart protrusions one pair on each edge of said rack.

5. Structure as specified in claim 4, wherein one of the protrusions of each pair is larger than the other protrusion of that pair.

6. A storage case for a power driven toothbrush handle, detachable brushes and a charger for said handle, said case comprising: a box-like structure including a base, a rear wall and a pair of spaced side Walls, a shelf spaced above the base to provide therebetween a cavity,

a battery charger in said cavity, a rack insertable be- 4. tween said side walls above said shelf and adapted to rest thereon, means on said rack for removably supporting toothbrushes, said shelf and rack having aligned openings therethrough for insertion of a power handle into said charger, and means for locking said rack in said case whereby the rack is capable of resisting vertical displacement upon removal of toothbrushes or power handle, said rack being removable from said case to facilitate cleaning thereof.

7. Structure as specified in claim 6, wherein said rack is channel-shaped and made from resilient material.

8. Structure as specified in claim 7, wherein said locking means comprises a boss on one of said side walls and a pair of protrusions on said rack, said boss being adapted to serve as a cam surface and one of said protrusions as a cam follower, said cam follower protrusion being adapted to depress the surface of said rack thereby permitting said cam follower protrusion to pass under said boss upon contacting thereof.

9. Structure as specified in claim 7, wherein said locking means comprises a boss on each of said side walls and two pairs of spaced apart protrusions one pair on each edge of said rack in a position to cooperatively engage a corresponding boss.

10. Structure as specified in claim 9, wherein one of the protrusions of each pair is larger than the protrusion of that pair.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1950 Jaffe et al. 19 0-12 8/1964 Springer 206-15.1 X 

6. A STORAGE CASE FOR A POWER DRIVEN TOOTHBRUSH HANDLE, DETACHABLE BRUSHES AND A CHARGER FOR SAID HANDLE, SAID CASE COMPRISING: A BOX-LIKE STRUCTURE INCLUDING A BASE, A REAR WALL AND A PAIR OF SPACED SIDE WALLS, A SHELF SPACED ABOVE THE BASE TO PROVIDE THEREBETWEEN A CAVITY, A BATTERY CHARGER IN SAID CAVITY, A RACK INSERTABLE BETWEEN SAID SIDE WALLS ABOVE SAID SHELF AND ADAPTED TO REST THEREON, MEANS ON SAID RACK FOR REMOVABLY SUPPORTING TOOTHBRUSHES, SAID SHELF AND RACK HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS THERETHROUGH FOR INSERTION OF A POWER HANDLE INTO SAID CHARGER, AND MEANS FOR LOCKING SAID RACK IN SAID CASE WHEREBY THE RACK IS CAPABLE OF RESISTING VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT UPON REMOVAL OF TOOTHBRUSHES OR POWER HANDLE, SAID RACK BEING REMOVABLE FROM SAID CASE TO FACILITATE CLEANING THEREOF. 